Metal bending and stretching apparatus with rotatable and shiftable die support



BY LEE B. GREEN 'rToRNEV 1 B. GREEN 2,536,738 METAL BENDING AND STRETCHING APPARATUS WITH Jan. 2, 1951 ROTATABLE AND SHIE'TABLE DIE SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IlI Filed March 11, 1948 llllllll n |lll MAMMA lf/WWI ATTORNEYS 1 @QAM Jan. 2, 1951 B GREEN 2,536,738

METAL BENDING AND' STRETCHTNG APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE AND SHIFTABLE DIE SUPPORT Filed March 11. 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Huil ' INVENTOR. I LE: B. GREEN AT'roRNEYs Jan. 2, 1951 B. GREEN 2,536,738

METAL BENDING AND STRETCHTNG APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE AND SHIFTABLE DTE SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March l1, 1948 2 B-end w3 Bend .7 N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Patenteci Jan. 2, 1951 METAL BENDING AND STRETCHING.- APPA- RATUS WITH ROTATABLE AND SHIFT- ABLE DIE SUPPORT Lee B. Green, Lakewood, Ohio l Application March 11, 1948, Serial No. 14,273

(ci. 15a-4.o)

25 Claims.

This invention relates to bending machinesA and, more particularly, to an improved bending machine for forming elongated metal workpieces of various cross-sections, including workpieces having web and flange portions, to desired shapes y without incurring wrinkling or buckling of the metal at the location of the bend and with substantially no spring-back effect when the bend has been completed.

As is understood by those skilled in this art. bending machines have been used heretofore in which the workpiece is bent to the desired shape vby forming or wrapping the same around a die member. In some of those machines the metal of the workpiece is purposely subjected to s stretching during the bending operation. Moreover, bending machines of this kind have been proposed in which the bending die is carried by a rotary table. So far as I am aware, however, the rotary-table bending machines of this type which have been proposed heretofore provide an improved bending machine of the character indicated in which the bending of elongated workpieces can be carried out with consistent accuracy and a rapid rate and in which the Workpieces can be easily and rapidly inserted into or removed from the machine.

Another object is to provide an improved bending machine of this character in which the bending die is carried by a die support having both rotary and translatory movement.

A further object of the present invention is to provide anv improved bending machine of the kind indicated in which the rotary movement of the die support can be controlled so as to cause a desired stretching of the workpiece during the bending operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved bending machine in which the rotary movement of the die support is produced by gear means rendered effective by the translatory movement of such die support.

.As another of its objects, this invention provides a combined bending and stretching maso as to accelerate or retard the rotary move,- ment for controlling the stretching of the workpiece during the bending operation.

Yet another object is to provide an improved bending machine having a bending die mounted for simultaneous rotary and translatory movement to cause bending, or bending and stretching, of a workpiece by a wrapping of the workpiece around the bending dies and in which novel means is employed for holding the workpiece during the operation.

As a further object, this invention providesa bending machine of the rotary-table type in which the workholding means includes a chuck which is mounted for rotation and for lateral swinging so as to be capable of adjusting itself to different positions assumed by the workpiece during the bending operation and in which the chuck is also longitudinally adjustable to a desired Setting.

A further object is to provide a combined bending and stretching machine in which a power device is employed to produce the longitudinal movement of the rotary die support and in which a second power device for imparting movement to the rack is adapted to be individually controlled so that the rack accelerates or retards the rotary movement of the die support for controlling the amount of stretching to be produced in theworkpiece.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the claims hereof.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a bending machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the machine as indicated by line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken transversely through the machine as indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the bending die as indicated by line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the workholder in de tached relation and on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the workholder;

Figs. '7 and 8 are vertical sectional views taken through the workhoider transversely thereof as indicated by section lines 1--1 and 8 8, respectively, oi Fig. 6;'

Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, are plan views corresponding with Fig. 1 but somewhat diagrammatic in form and showing the diierent positions assumed by the bending die and workpiece at different stages of the bending operation;

Fig, 13 is a partial vertical section, on a larger scale, taken through the bending die and workpiece as indicated by line I3-I3 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a diagrammatic nature showing thev controls and uifd pressure supply means for the power devices which produce the longitudinal movement and control the rotary movement, respectively;

Fig. 15 is a plan view showinga modified form of the improved bending machine in which a stationary bending die is employed in addition to the movable bending die Y Fig. 16 is a partial vertical section taken through the movable bending die of themodied machine, the view being taken on line I6-I6 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a similar vertical section taken through the stationary bending die as indicated by line I'I-I-I of Fig. 15.

In the embodiment oi the invention illustrated in Figs; VV1 Zand 3, a bending machine IIJ is shown fha'ving a laterally elongated frame Il. The frame lis provided with a pair of vsubstantially parallel laterally spaced guide members 12a and I2b defining a longitudinally extending 4^guide- Way I2. At one end of the machine theframe II :is provided with a relatively elevated housing portion I3, the top of which 'denes a :substantially horizontally extending 'fixed table I4, and `a hollow portion I la which extends into the housing portion I3 in spaced relation to `and beneath thetable I4. Acarriage I5 is reciprocablymvfable in the lguideway I2 toward and from 'the fixed table I4. A rotary die support inthe iorm of a. substantially circular table I6 is mounted on the lcarriage I5 for'm'ovement longitudinally of the guideway I2 toward and from the lixed table I4;

lFor mounting the rotary die table I6 thereon theparriage I5 is provided with an upright sleeve portion a in which a vertical spindle I'l is `rotatably mounted by means of "suitable vertical duced portion I'Ia on which the hubgportions I6a :olf the rotary table I6 isgsecured as by Vmeans of ithe key 23a. Immediately below the portion I'Ia the `spindle I1 `is provided with a shoulder portion I'Ib onk which a gear V22 Vis Asecured by means of the key 2319 and servesa purpose which will be presently explained. Movement is imparted tothe carriage I5 longitudinally of theguideway l2 bymeans of a'suitable power device, preferably a. hydraulic cylinder ,25, as shown in this instance'.l The cylinder 25 is located at one end Yof the guideway i2 :and can be mounted on the frame portion Il a which "extends `beneath the Vfixed ,table I4. A piston 26 reciprocable in the rcylinder125 vis operably con'- nected with the carriage I5 by meansjof the rod 21. I Conduits 28 and 2-9 (see Fig. 14) are. connected with opposite ends of the cylinder 25 and by controlling the flow of pressure fluid through these conduits, as explained hereinafter, the powercylinder will cause movement of the cai"- riage I5 through a working stroke 'in a direction toward the fixed table I4 and through "a return stroke in a direction away from the iixed table. Rotary movement is imparted to the die table I5 by cooperation of the gear 22 with a rack 30 which extends along the frame II in substantially parallel relation to the guideway I2. When the carriage I5 is moved through its working stroke toward the table I4 the gear 22 rolls on the rack 30 and drives the spindle II to thereby impart rotary movement A to the diev table I6. During the'retui movemerit of the carriage I5, the gear 22 rotates the table l5 in the opposite direction to return the same to its initial position. It will thus be seen that the rotary movement is imparted to the die table I6 by the gear members v22 and 36 simultaneously with the translatory movement which imparted to the carriage I5 byykthe Vpower cylinder 25.

The rack 30 is mounted on the frame Il by being supported for endwise movement in a guideway 3|. This endwise movement is for the purpose of controlling the rotary movement of the die table I6 and can be imparted to the rack -30 by "means of a suitable power device, prferably a hydraulic cylinder 32 as here shown, have ing 'a pistori 33fre`ciprocabi`e therein and operably connected with the ladjacent end of the -rack by means of the rod 34. As shown in the drawings, the 'cylinder A32 can be mountedon the frame peri tion I la which extends beneath rthe Yfixed table I. Conduits 35 4arid 36 are -connected with `opL posite ends of the power cylinder l32 Vand by con trolling the oW 'of pressure uid through tliese conduits, as hereinafter explained, the 'desired endwise movementcan be imparted to the rack 3D for controlling the rotary movement of the 'die table I6.

For performin'ga desired'bending operation on an'elongated m'etal workpiece, such as the lworkpiece 38; a bendingdie 39 is mounted on the-die tableA "I6 as :by meansof -a bolster `plate 4U and suitable clamps 4I'. The workpiece-38 is initially -a substantiallyjstraight channel-shaped metal member having `longitudinal webia'nd `flange portions 38a and 38h as shown in Figs; v1 and 2. During the bending "operation this workpiece -is bentV to substantially the U-shape forin `shown in Fig. 12 by forming three -successive bends .42, 43 and 44 therein at spaced points longitudinally thereof. rlhe Yformed workpiece thus produced mayv be a frame member intended for -u'se in 'a motor vehicle, valthough Variousjother specic workpieces,can be subjected 'to desired bending operations in this'ma'chine to adapt them Ifor use in `various kinds of metal fabricating wo'rk.

.During the 4bending operation performed on the workpiece 38; thedie rotates with the table I5 and is also moved longitudinally of the guide"- way :I2 toward `the vfixed ltable if. yby the translatory movement imparted to the carriage I5. During 'such combined rotary vand tr'anlatory movement, the workpiece 38 is wrapped around the die '39, thereby Ycausing "the 'die to :foln l'the successive vbends 42; n43 vand 45 'in the workpiece. uring this bending :operation fthe workpiece 'fs grippedat or'adjacent its'iorwardiendby aisutable workliclderzsuch as thecliuck 45, and i`s`al`s'o engaged at a point spaced 'irc'rii 'it's'zfor'ward elia cya workholder 'd6 vni'ounted n the Viix'ed table I4 and vwhich ma'y include lla 'chuck :47. The 'chucks 'and 41 can be "fluid operated 'chucks or caribe of any Y'otherconventicn'al type. `The Chuck Cante-embodies in the bending 'die' les, or as 'heresho'wn, can be'iiotnted o"n the'rtary table le adjacent the portion 'o'ftne di wiih forms the l'irstbe'nd 42 in the vycrkpiece. 'The wotrk'holder d6 `will beiirther'deserib'e'd herein; af er;

The die 39 can be of any appropriate size or shape dependingv upon the particular bending operations required to be performed on the workpiece. In this instance the die 39 has three convexly rounded portions 42a, 43a and 44a which form the respective bends 42, 43 and 44 inthe workpiece when the latter is wrapped or wound about the die. 'The die is here shown as also having a pair of vertically spaced grooves 48 in the working face or edge thereof and in which the spaced longitudinal iianges 38h of the workpiece engage during the bending operation. Although the die 3S is here shown as being formed by three plate-like sections 39a, 39h and 39e, it could be of any other appropriate form of construction. During the bending operation the web portion 38a of the workpiece is bent out of its own plane informing each of the three successive bends 42, 43 and 44 and during the formation of these same bends the flange portions 38h are bent within their own planes. Since the flange portions 3822 engage snugly in the grooves 48 of the die 39 they will be held by the side walls of the grooves against wrinkling or buckling during the formation of the bends 42, 43 and 44.

The improved bending machine lil can be used for carrying out simple bending operations on the workpiece 3B as already explained above and can also be used for carrying out a combined bending and stretching operation on the workpiece. When the workpiece is subjected to a stretching operation simultaneously with the bending thereof, important additional advantages are obtained in that the flange portions of the workpiece are less likely to become wrinkled or buckled at the location of the bend and the inherent spring-back effect frequently lfound in formed workpieces is substantially entirely eliminated. The stretching of the workpiece s"mul taneously with the bending thereof results, in part, from the offset location of that portion of the die which produces the bend, in relation to the rotation axis of the table 6. The amount of such stretching imparted to the workpiece during the bending thereof can be varied by controlling the rotary movement of the die table i6 by means of the longitudinal movement imparted to the rack 30.

In the case of the bending die 39, the amount of stretching imparted to the workpiece 38 by the die portions 42a, 43a and 44a. in forming the the forming of bends 42 and 44 therein, endwis movement is imparted to the rack in a direction toretard the rotary movement of the die table I6 during the bending operation, that is to say, endwise movement in a direction toward the xed table I4. Since this inward movement of the rack 30 is in the same direction as the translatory movement being imparted to the carriage l5 by the power cylinder 25, the additive result is a decreased relative movement between the rack and the gear 22 and this causes a retardation of the rotary movement of the table I6. To increase the stretching imparted to the workpiece 38 during the forming of the bend 43 therein, an outward movement is imparted to the rack 30 and this outward movement being opposite to the direction of the translatory movement it produces an increased relative movement between the rack and gear 22 and results in an acceleration of the rotary movement of the die table I6.

Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive, show the machine ID being used to carry out the above described com- Y bined bending and stretching operation on the bends 42, 43 and 44 is initially dependent upon the location of these die portions relative to the pitch circle 22a of the gear 22. The die portion 42a. which produces the initial bend 42 is located outside of the pitch cincle 22a and therefore this portion of the die will have a more rapid arcuate travel during rotation of the die table i6 than a point on the pitch circle and will ordinarily produce stretching in the workpiece simultaneously with` the forming of this bend. The die portion 44a, is likewise located on the table 216 at a point outwardly of the pitch circle 22a.- and willvalso ordinarily produce stretching of the workpiece simultaneously with the forming of the bend 44. The die portion 43a which forms the bend 43 is, however, located at a point on the die table I6 inwardly of the pitch circle 22o and therefore has a slower rate of arcuate travel during rotation of the table than a point on the pitch circle 220i,v and hence, this portion of the die will ordinarily not produce any stretching of the workpiece durw ing the forming of the bend 43.

To prevent the occurrence of an excessive `amount of stretching in the workpiece 3s during workpiece 33 during which the three successive bends 42, 43 and 44 are formed therein by the bending die 39. Fig. 9 shows the carriage l5 and the rotary die table i6 located on the guideway i2 at a, relatively remote point from the xed table i4. The die 35i is shown in this view in its initial or starting position and at this time the workpiece 33 extends in relatively inclined relation to the guide'way and has its ends gripped by the chucks 45 and 4l. When the die and workpiece occupy the relative positions shown in Fig. 9, the machine is ready to start forming the initial bend 42 in the workpiece.

Fig. l0 shows the carriage l5 as having been moved through a portion of its working travel toward the fixed table i4 and also shows the die table l5 as having been rotated through a correspending angular distance by the rolling of the gear 22 in mesh with the rack 3i?. During the combined translatory and rotary movement thus imparted to the table It during its travel from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. l0, the die portion 42a has completed the bend 42 in the workpiece and the die now occupies the position in which it is about to formthe bend 43. yDuring the forming of the bend 42, the workpiece was subjected to a combined bending and stretching operation, but to prevent excessive stretching of the workpiece by reason of the fact that the die portion 42a lies outside the pitch circle 22a, a simultaneous inward movement was imparted to the rack 30 by the power cylinder 32.

Fig. 11 shows the carriage l5 and the rotary table 'i6 as having been moved still farther toward the xed table i4 and the die 3Q is shown in the position in which the second bend 43 has been completed and the die portion 44a is about to begin forming the third bend 44. During the forming of the bend 43 the rack 3o has been moved in an outward d'rection to accelerate the rotary movement ofthe table I6 to thereby increase the stretching of the workpiece and compensate for the fact that the die portion 43a lies inside the pitch circle 22a.

In Fig. 12 the carriage I5 and the rotary table IS are shown in the'r final position, that is to say, in a position corresponding with the end of the working travel. At this time the position ofthe die 39is such that the die porton 44a has completed the third bend 44 in the workpiece. During the forming of this third bend the rack 3U has again been moved in an inward direction to 7 retard the:v rotary movement of' the.` table I6 and' thereby.y prevent an excessive amount of stretch` ing from being produced in the workpiece.

Arrows3 21a and associated.- with the rod 2l and the rack 3!) inFigs. 1.0,. 11,. and 12. show the direction. of. the relative movements ofV these members during the formingof the three. bends 42,43 and 4d.

After" the desired bends` have been. formed in the' workpiece 38, as explained; aboveit.is released from the chucks d5 and 4j?. and is removed from. the machine. The power cylinder 25 is then operated to return the carriage l5 and rotary die table Hi; to the initial or` starting positionshown in Eig. 9- ready teA receive another workpiece. Thepower cylinder S2 isalso actuated to return therackY 3G; to the posit'on corresponding with the nitialposition ofthe rotary table it.

Asmentiorred above, the power cylinder 25 for actuating the carriage l5 and the powercylinder 32 for actuating the rack 30 are preferably hydraulic cylinders, and o'l or other suitable liquid for operating these` cylinders can be supplied under pressure from a. suitable tank or reservoir 69. located in the hollow frame portion Ha. The iluid pressure for actuating. the power cylinder 25 isl derived from a sutable pump 58 and the fluid pressure for actuating the cylinder 32 is derived from a suitable pump 5i. These pumps have ap propriete uid delivery capacities for the cylinders 25-r and 32 andare adapted to be driven by an electr-'c motor lita. The pumps and driving motor are here shown. as being mounted on the top of the, tank 65.

Thel pump4 5% withdraws liquid from the tank z7 49 through a suction conduit-.52., and discharges the liquid under pressure through a delivery conduit 5.3 and control valve 54 for use by the power cylinder 25, Opposite ends of the power cylinder 25 are operably connected w'th the control valve 54v by the above-mentioned conduits 28 and. 29. The control valve E5 is of a conventional` construction and is provided interiorly thereof with a movable Valve member (notv shown) which is adapted tobe shifted by a manually operable control lever 55 so that theY pressure iluid. delivered by the pump 5d will be supplied'to one end orthe other or" the power cylinder-25 depending upon the direction in which the carriage. I5 is to bemoved. exhaust conduit 5G for returning uid to the tank 4,9;V lThe control lever 55 has an intermediate or neutralposition 55a in which the pressure fluid is-Y trapped in thecylinder Z5 and can be shifted ln leitherA direction from this neutral-postion to cause a. corresponding. movement of the carriage l5.- In Fig. la the different positions to which the piston 25 of the power cylinder 25 moves .dur ing the forming ofthe three bends 42, @Siandid inthe workpiece 33., are indicated respectively at 26u, 2,517: and 2te. rIhe corresponding positions to which the axis of the spindle His moved are indicatedby the linesiifia, 5'lband 5.10.

Liquid is withdrawn from thetank 49by the pump 5i through the suction conduit 58 and is delivered under pressure through the conduit 5t and the control valve Sevior. use by the cylinder 32 in impartngendwise movement to the rack- 3G. The control valve 68. is connected with opposite ends of the power cylinderv 32 by the abovementioned conduits .i5 and tland also has an exhaust conduit 5i for returning uid' to the tank. The control valve 5d is similar to thevalve:54 and provided internally thereofiwithi an. movable.. valve: member (not shown) whichis The valve 5d is also provided withanV adapted to be actuated by themanually operable control lever 52. The control lever 62 has an in termediate. position 62a in which fluid is trapped in the power cylinder 32 and can be shifted in either direction from thisY neutral position for: actuatingv the valve; 6U' to cause a corresponding; endwise movement of the rack 30 by the. power.' cylinder. The lengths of travel through. whiclr the pistonk 3.3`r ofthe4 power cylinder 32 is moi/edi in successionin. producing the endwisemovement. of the rack 30. necessary to control the rotary' movement of the, die table I5 dur'ng the forming, of the bendsA 42', 43 and 44 are. indicated, respec-v tively; bythe dimensional; distances 33a, 33h andi 33e. When the control levers 56 and 62. of' the valves 54 and; Si); are in. their neutral positions.v the pressure fluid being delivered by the pumpsz and 5|;is returned tothe tank 49 through the bit-4 pass conduits 63 and 6d which lead from auto'- maticf'by-pass.valves'65 and 65 which arelocated" inv the delivery-conduits 53 and 55 respectively, and which can be of any conventional construction.

The workholder 46' which includes the chuckv and is mounted. on the Xed table iii is of a novel constructionl and will be described next. This workholderl comprisesl a bracket G9 which. is adapted to be mounted at different positions of. adjustment-on the iixed table I4, as aorded by.v the slots fland' the clamps 'H of the latter, and a head i2' pivotallyl mounted on the bracket to permitlateral swinging of the chuck dfi. This; pivotal mountingk can be formed by the head portion 7rd (see Fig. 7) which is rotatably seated' in a recess G9a-of the' bracket E@ and is retained thereinby the bearing disk. 73.

The head7'2 has clamping portions 'i2b and $20' adapted to be drawn together by a clamping screw 'it havinga noncircular portion 'Ma to which a wrench or other tool can be applied. The headV l2 aso has an opening i5 therethrough in which a sleeve l5 issidable for longitudinal adjustment and is adapted to be clamped at a desired setting by the clamping portions 72b and 12e. A spindle T1 extends through the s'eeve 'it'and is rotatable therein. Thel chuck 47 isiixed on the forward'end of thespindleV Tl soY as toK be rotatable therewith and adjustable longitudinally with the s'eeve 'H31 The opposite end' of the spindle projects from the sleeve:v T6 and is provided with a shoulder which, in this instance, is formed by the nuts i5. An anti-friction thrust bearing IS is dis# posed between the nuts 18 and the adjacent end of thesleeve 15.

From the construction of the workholder 46, as above described, it will be seen that during the' bending operations performed on thel workpiece 38 the chuck` 4.? is capable of self-adjustment by the lateral'swinging afforded by the pivoted head 'l2 and bythe rotary movement permitted forv` the'spindle 'l1 in the sleeve 1t. In this way the chuck 4l' willalways remain in alignment withV the axis oftheworkpiece and the workpiece can assume diierent angular positions required by the bending'die 39 and will always remain in sub'- stantially tangential relation to the working surface ofthe die*` The workholder 46' can be adjusted on thetable Wand the sleeve E6 can be adjusted inthe head'lZ so as-toprovide a setting for the chuck i? which will bei appropriate for a particular. length of the workpiece 38. When the clampingv screw I4 of the head 'Z2 has been releasedfor making the' sleeve' adjustmentV just mentioned, the sleeve canbe shifted axially inthe head'by means of a rack 80 formed on the sleeve along one side thereof and a pinion 8l meshing with such rack. The pinion SSI is carried by a shaft 82 which is rotatable in the head 'l2 and has a non-circular portion 82a to which a wrench or other suitable tool can be applied. The rack 8o is maintained in mesh with the pinion 3l by preventing rotation ofthe sleeve i6 about its axis, as by means of the key t3 which is secured tc the sleeve and is slidable in a keyway formed in the head 12 as a radial extension of the opening l5.

In Figs. 15, 16 and 17 of the drawings a modifled bending machine 35 is shown which is identical in construction and operation with the machine I il described above except for the fact that the movable bending die 85 is of a different crosssectional shape and the fact that the modified machine includes a stationary bending die 8l in addition to its movable bending die. The workpiece 88 is of a different cross-sectional shape than the workpiece 38 and for that reason the cross-sectional shape of the movable bending die 8E is different from the die 39. In this instance, the workpiece 88 is of a channel-shaped crossse'ction having web and flange portions 58a. and

88h, but the longitudinally extending flange portions 8817 also have angular longitudinal extensions or edge portions 88e lying in a plane which is substantially parallel to the plane containing the web portion 88a. Aside from the bending dies 86 and 8l, the machine 85 is in other respects identical with the machine IE! described above and functions in the same manner to form three successive bends 39, 90 and 9i in the workpiece during a simultaneous rotary and translatory movement imparted to the die 36. Corresponding parts of the machine B5 have accordingly been designated with the same reference characters as in the machine l0.

The movable bending die 88 is shown in'Fig. 16 as being formed vby three connected sections 85a, 86h and 86o which define a peripheral groove 92 adapted to receive the channei-shaped portion of the workpiece 3B. The edge of the intermediate die section 85a forms a working surface v,- 4

93 against which the web portion 38a of the workpiece is bent and the edges of the top and bottom die sections 85h and 86o form peripheral working portions de against which the'edge portions 38o of the workpiece are bent. Portions of the adjacent inner faces of the die sections 86h and 35e engage the fiange portions 88h cf the workpiece and hold the same against wrinkling or buckling during the bending operations.

The stationary die member 8l is mounted on u the xed table I4 by means of a suitable bracket 85, as shown in 1Fig. 15. The bracket S5 is of a size and shape to locate the die 8l in proper position to be engaged by an intermediate portion of the workpiece 83 to form a fourth and final bend l .S6 therein. The location of the die Si' is such that it will be engaged by the portion of the workpiece extending between the movable bending die 8S, after the completion of the third bend 9|, and

the chuck di' and will form the bend 95 in this ing surfaces 98 against which the longitudinal' edge portions 88e of the workpiece are bent. The side faces of the die portion 91 engage the flange portions 88h of the workpiece and hold the same against wrinkling or buckling during the formation of the bend 9S. Since the bend 96 is formed during the nal part of the combined rotary and translatory movement being imparted to the movable bending die 86, the workpiece can, if desired, be subjected to stretching during the forming of this bend depending upon the control exercised over 'the rotary movement of the die table I6 by the endwise movement of the rack 30.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will now be readily understood that this invention provides an improved bending machine of the rotary-table type in which elongated workpieces can be subjected to either `a simple bending operation, or to a combined bending and stretching operation. Itwill also be seen that the movable bending die is actuated with a simultaneous rotary and translatory movement so that the workpiece is wrapped around the die during the forming operation. Moreover, it will be seen that the stretching to which the workpiece is subjected during the bending operation can be accurately controlled by accelerating or retarding the rotary movement imparted to the bending die. Additionally, it will be seen that the improved machine is adapted for carrying out rapid production work in which successive workpieces are subjected to consistently accurate forming operations and in which the workpieces can'be easily and quickly inserted into or removed from the machine. The bending, or bending and stretching, operations as carried out in the im'- proved machine are accomplished without wrinkling or buckling and with substantially no spring-back eiect in the workpiece.

Although the improved bending machine has been illustrated and described herein to a detailed extent, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not to be regarded as being correspondingly limited in scope, but includes al1 changes and modifications coming within the terms of the claims hereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a bending machine, a frame, a chuck mounted on said frame at a relatively fixed location thereon and adapted to grip an elongated workpiece at a point spaced from its forward end, a die support, means mounting said die support for rotary movement and for a simultaneous translatory movement which advances said 'die support continuously toward said chuck during said rotary movement, a die on said die support about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped progressively from said forward end during said rotary and translatory movement to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece, and means for producing said rotary and translatory movement of the die support, said chuck being effective to substantially anchor said workpiece at the gripped point thereof to per-l mit said stretching of the workpiece by the wrapping thereof on said die.

2. In a bending machine, a frame, a rst chuck mounted on said frame at a relatively xed location thereon and adapted to grip an ass-arse 11 first chuck during said rotary movement, a second chuck on said die support ada ted to grip the workpiece adjacent its .forward end', a die on die support and about which a portion of the workpiece intermediate said chucks is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and tran'slatory movement to cause bending 'and stretching of the workpiece, .and means for pro du'cing said 'rotary and translatory movement of the die support, said irst chuck being eective gripped point thereof to permit said stretching of the workpiece by the wrapping thereof on said die.

B. In a bending machine, a frame, chuck mean-s on said frame adapted to grip and substanti'ally anchor a workpiece, a die support, a Acarriage movable longitudinally of lsaid frame and mounting said ldie support on said frame for Yrotary'and longitudinal movement, 'a bending die Von said die support `and adapted to cause bending of the workpiece to the desired shape during .said- Jrotary 'and 'longitudinal movement by wrapping of the workpiece around said bending die, meshing gear members connected with said frame and die :support and having rolling cooperation adapted to cause a Yconti-rnious rotary movement vof the die support during a-continuous longitudinal 'movement :of the carriage, and power means operable to cause said longitudinal movement of the carriage, said bending die having `a bendforming portion extending beyond the common pitch `line 'of .said meshing gea-r members and adapted to cause stretching of said workpiece during the ybend-ing thereof.

4. In Ta bending machine, a frame, a die sup port, chuck means for holding an elongated workpiece .having web and flange portions, a carriage movable longitudinally Yof said frame and mounting said die support lon said frame for simultaneous rotary :and longitudinal movement, a .bending die on said die support and about which -said workpiece is adapted to fbe wrapped during said rotary and longitudinal movement to cause stretching vof the workpiece and to 4also causey bending -of the web portion out of its ,own plane and simultaneous bending of the ange portion within its own plane, lsaid bending die having means -for holding said flange .portion to prevent buckling thereof during said bending, .meshing :gear :members connected with said trame and die 'support and having rolling Vcooperation adapted 'to cause a Acontinuous rotary movement of the die support during a continuous longitudinal :movement of said carriage, 'and power means opora-ble to cause said longitudinal movement of said carriage, said .bending die having a bend- Jforming portion extending -beyond :the common 'pitch Yline of said meshing Agear members and adapted vto cause said stretching-of the workpiece during said bending of said web and flange portions.

5. ,In a bending machine, a frame, a .chuck on said frame 'adapted to -grip and substantially anchor 'an elongated workpiece Kso that an end .of

lthe workpiece projects from the chuck, a die support, a carriage movable longitudinally of said iframe and `mounting said die ksupport `on said frame .for rotary .movement and also forlongi- -rtudinal movement toward and 'away from said chuck, .abendingdie on said die support adapted p ltocause bending and stretching of the projectkJ-ingendfor said workpiece during said rotary .and`

longitudinal movement, meshing gear members connected withgsaid frame and die support and having rolling cooperation adapted to cause a continuous rotary movement of the die support during a continuous longitudinal movement of said carriage, and means for imparting said longitudinal .movement to said carriage., said bending .die having a bend-forming portion extending beyond the common pitch line of said meshing gear members and adapted to cause said stretching of the workpiece during said bending y thereof. to substantially anchor said workpiece at the 6. In a bending machine, a frame, a carriage movable on said frame, a table rotatably mounted on said carriage, a bending die on said table and about which an elongated workpiece is adapted to be wrapped for bending the workpiece to a desired shapen1eans associated with said die for gripping one portion .of the. workpiece, means on said `trame engageable with another portion of said workpiece for gripping and substantially anchoring the same, a rack on lsaid frame, power means adapted to actuate said carriage, and a gear member connected with said table and 'meshing with said rack such as to cause rotary movement of said table `during actuation of the carriage by said power means, said bending kdie having a bend-forming portion extending beyond the common pitch .line of said meshing rack and gear members and adapted to cause stretching of the workpiece during said bending thereof.

7. .In a machine `for producing a combined bending and stretching operation on an elongated workpiece, a frame, mea-uson said frame adapted to grip said workpiece at va point spaced from its forward end, adie support, means mounting said die support for rotary movement and .for translatory movement toward the gripping means, means `on said die support adapted to gri-p the workpiece adjacent its forward end, a die on said die support adapted to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece during said rotary and translatory movement, means for producing said rotary and translatory movement of the die support, and

`means .for accelerating or .retarding said rotary VKmovement of the die support in `relation vto said translatory movement thereof for ,controlling the stretching of the workpiece.

8. In a. bending machine, a frame, a die support, a means mounting said die support on said vframe for rotary .and longitudinal movement, ya

die on said die support and about which a workpiece is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and longitudinal movement to cause bending of the workpiece, meshing y,gear members adapted to cause the .rotary movement of said die support during said longitudinal movement, one of said gear members being connected with said die support and the other being mounted on said frame fand, adapted to be moved substantially in the direction .of said longitudinal movement, power means operable to vcause said 'longitudinal movement of the die support, and other power means operable to impart movement to said other -gear member to cause acceleration or retardation-oi said rotary movement of the die support in relation to said longitudinalmovement thereof.

9. In a combined bending and stretching rma- `chine, ia Trame, a die support, means mounting `said die support on said frame for rotary Aand longitudinal movement, ya-die on said die support Iand about which an elongated workpiece is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary .and longitudinal movement to cause bending and .stretching of the workpiece, ,a Achuck von said die Asupport land .movable therewith .and .adapted lto 13 grip one end of said workpiece, a second chuck mounted on said frame and adapted to grip said workpiece at a point spaced from said one end, meshing gear members adapted to causethe rotary movement of said die support during said longitudinal movement,l one of said gear members being connected with said die support and the other being mounted on said frame and and adapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from said one end, means mounting said die support on said frame so as to be capable of rotary movement and also longitudinal movement toward and away from said second chuck, a

bending die on said support and about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and longitudinal movement to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece, a pair of meshing gear members adapted to cause the rotary movement of said die support during said longitudinal movement, one of said members being an arcuate gear member connected with said die support and the other being a rack mounted on said frame for endwise movement substantially in the direction of said longitudinal movement, means for imparting said longitudinal movement to the die support, and means for imparting endwise movement to said rack for varying the rotary movement of the die support so as to control the stretching of the workpiece.

l1. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame, a die support, a chuck on said die support for gripping one end of an elongated workpiece having web and iiange portions, a second chuck mounted on said frame andadapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from said one end, a carriage reciprocably movable longitudinally oi said frame and mounting said die support on said frame so as to be capable of rotary movement and also longitudinal movement toward and away from said second chuck, a bending die on said support and about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and 'longitudinal movement to cause bending of the web portion out of its own plane and bend- Ving of the flange portion within its own plane and tovalso cause stretching of the workpiece, said bending diel having means for holding said flange portion against buckling during the bending thereof, a pair of meshing gear members adapted to cause a continuous rotary movement of said die support .during a continuous longitudinal movement of said carriage, one of said members being an arcuate gear member connected with said die support and the other being a rack mountedon said frame for endwise movement substantialy in the direction of said longitudinal movement of the die support,l means for imparting said longitudinal movement to said carriage, and means for imparting the endwise movement to said rack for varying the rotary movement of the die support soV as tocontrol said stretching of the workpiece.

l2-. In a combined bendingand stretching ma- 14 chine, a frame having a guideway thereon, a carriage movable along said guideway, a table rotatably mounted on said carriage, a chuck on saidtable for gripping one end of an elongated workpiece, a second chuck mounted on said frame at one end of said guideway and adapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from the irst chuck,v

a bending die mounted on said table and about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece during the longitudinal movement of the carriage land the rotary movement of the table, a

rack extending substantially in the direction of said guideway, a gear connected with said table and meshing with said rack for imparting the rotary movement to the table during said longi tudinal movement of the carriage, means mounting said rack for endwise movement on said frame for varying the rotary movement of said table so` as to control said stretching of the workpiece, a-

power cylinder on said frame at one end of said guideway and operably connected with said carriage for imparting movement thereto, and a sec-- ond power cylinder on said frame and operably connected with said rack.

13. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame, a first chuck on said frame at a relatively xed location thereon and adapted to grip an elongated workpiece at a point spaced from its forward end, a die support, a carriage movable longitudinally of said frame and mountof said carriage, power means for producing such longitudinal movement of the carriage, and pivotal mounting means for said first chuck permiti ting swinging thereof for self-alignment with the workpiece substantially tangentially of said bending die, said first chuck being effective to substantially anchor said workpiece at the gripped point thereof to permit said stretching ofthe workpiece by the wrapping thereof on said die.

14. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame, a first chuck on said frame at a relatively ixed location thereon and adapted to grip an elongated workpiece at a point spaced from its forward end, a die support, a carriage movable longitudinally of said frame and mounting said die support for rotary movement and for translatory movement toward said rst chuck` a second chuck on said die support adapted to grip the workpiece adjacent its .forward end, a die on said die support and about which a portion ofl the workpiece intermediate said chucks is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and translatorsT j movementto cause bending and stretching of the workpiece, means for producing a continuous ro'y tary movement of the die support during a con--v tinuous longitudinal movement of said carriage, power means for imparting such longitudinal movement to said carriage, and means mounting said first chuck so as to be rotatable substantially about the longitudinal axis of the workf piece and to bealso capable oi lateral swinging for self-'alignment with the workpiece substantially tangentially of said bending die, said rst 17 workpiece at a point spaced from itsl forward end, a die support, means mounting said die support for rotary movement and for translatory movement toward said rst chuck, a second chuck on said die support adapted to grip the workpiece adjacent its forward end, a rst bending die on said'die support and about which a portion of the workpiece intermediate said chucks is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and translatory movement to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece, means for producing said rotary and translatory movement of the die support including meshing gear members having rolling cooperation and connected respectively with said frame and die support, pivotal mounting means for said rst chuck, permitting lateral swinging thereof during said rotary and translatory movement, and a second bending die mounted on said frame in relatively fixed relation and located to be engaged by and bend a portion of said workpiece during the final part of said rotary and translatory movement. said first bending die having a bend-forming portion extending beyond the common pitch line of said meshing gear members and adapted to cause said stretching of the workpiece during the bending thereof.

21. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame having a guideway thereon, a carriage movable along said guideway, a table rotatably mounted on said carriage, a chuck on said table for gripping one end of an elongated workpiece, a second chuck mounted on said frame at one end of said guideway and adapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from the rst chuck, a bending die mounted on said table and about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece during the longitudinal movement of the carriage and the rotary movement of the table, a rack extending substantially in the direction of said guideway, a gear connected with said table and meshing with said rack for imparting the rotary movement to the table during the longitudinal movement of the carriage, means mounting said rack for endwise movement on said L frame for varying the rotary movement of said table so as to control said stretching of the workpiece, a power cylinder on said frame at one end of said guideway and operably connected with said carriage for imparting movement thereto, a second power cylinder on said frame and operably connected with said rack, and a second bending die mounted on said frame and located adjacent said second chuck so as to cause bending of an intermediate portion of the workpiece.

22. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame having a guideway thereon, a carriage movable along said guideway, a table rotatably mounted on said carriage, a chuck on said table for gripping one end of an elongated workpiece, a second chuck mounted on said frame at one end of said guideway and adapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from the first chuck, a bending ,die mounted on said table and about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece during the longitudilnal movement of the carriage and the rotary movement of the table, a rack extending substantially in the direction of said guideway, a gear connected with said table and meshing with said rack for imparting the rotary movement to the table during the longitudinal movement of the carriage, means mounting said rack for endwise movement on said frame for varying the ,rtary mgvegieilt af said table so as to control said stretching of the workpiece, a power cylinder on said frame at one end of lsaid guideway and operably connected with said carriage for imparting the longitudinal movement thereto, a second power cylinder on said4 frame and operably connected with said rack, a second die support mounted on said frame, anda second bending die carried by said second die Support and adapted to be engaged by an intermediate portion of the workpiece for causing bending of said intermediate portion during the final part of the rotary and longitudinal movement of the first die support.

23. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame, a die support, a chuck on said die support'for gripping one end of an elongated workpiece, a second chuck mounted on said frame and adapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from said one end, means mounting said die support on said frame so as to be capable of rotary movement and also longitudinal movement toward and away from said second chuck, a bending die on said support and about which said workpiece is adapted to be wrapped during said rotary and longitudinal movement to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece, a pair of meshing gear members adapted to cause the rotary movement of said die support during said longitudinal movement, one of said gear members being connected with said die support and the other being a rack mounted on said frame for endwise movement substantially in the direction of said longitudinal movement of the die support, a power device operable to impart said longitudinal movement to the die support, a power device operable to impart said endwise movement to said rack for varying the rotary movement of the die support so as to control said stretching of the workpiece, and manually operable controls associated with the respective power devices for individually controlling the same.

24. In a combined bending and stretching machine, a frame having a guideway thereon, a carriage movable along said guideway, a ltable rotatably mounted on said carriage, a chuck on said table for gripping one end of an elongated workpiece, a second chuck mounted on said frame at one end of said guideway and adapted to grip the workpiece at a point spaced from the first chuck, a bending die mounted on said table and -about which said workpiece is adapted to be Wrapped to cause bending and stretching of the workpiece during the longitudinal movement of the carriage and the rotary movement of the table, a rack extending substantially in the direction of said guideway, a gear connected with said table and meshing with said rack for imparting the rotary movement to the table during the longitudinal movement of the carriage, means mounting said rack for endwise movement on said frame for varying the rotary movement of said table so as to control said stretching of the workpiece, a power cylinder on said frame at one end of said guideway and operably connected with said carriage for imparting movement thereto, a second power cylinder on said frame and operably connected with said rack, a source of pressure uid for operating said power cylinders, and control valves associated with the respective power cylinders for individually controlling the same.

25. A combined bending and stretching machine comprising a frame having a guideway thereon and a xed table at one end of said guideway, a carriage movable along said guideway, a

rotary table in substantially horizontal alignment with said iixed table, means `mounting said l.rotary table on said carriage, means-on saidgrotary Atable adapted to grip one -end of elongated Workpieoe ,to be bent, means on said xed table adapted to grip the other end of the workpiece, a dieon said rotary table and about which the intermediate portion of the workpiece Vis adapted tofbe Wrapped for bending the workpiece to a vdesired shape, meshing gear members adapted to cause the frotary movement of Athe yrotary table during the longitudinal movement of Vsaid carriage, One .of said gear members being a rack mountegion said frame for `endwise movement 4substantial1yinthe direction of said guideway for accelelating o rre.- v

tarding said rotary movement of the rotary liable to control the stretching of the workpiece, :and power devices operably connected with said rack and carriage for imparting movement A`thereto.

ALEE 13. GREEN.

2) nomen-NCES 011121) 'The `rfollowing references are of record in "the 'le -of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name Date 904,563 Rau Nov. 23, 1908 '2,022,915 VJensen Dec. 3, '1935 2,182,626 Fischer Dec. k5, 1939 2,266,912 Shaw Dec. 23, 1941 2,292,731 Amiot Aug. 11, 1942 2,310,259 Ruppel Feb. 9, 1943 Y2,357,812 Duer Sept. 12, 1944 2,370,329 Siefried Feb. 27, 1945 2,393,140 Bugg Jan. 15, 1946 2,402,213 Bogart June 18,1946 2,411,801 Nielsen Nov. 26, 1946 2,444,719 `Bath July 6, 1948 A'2,4%461189 'Hochreiter J uLv 27, 1948 

